Please recycle.

It’s the 100th meeting between the Eagles and Cowboys and you know what that means…the end of days in Philadelphia. Fresh off of seeing the Phillies drop the World Series, Philadelphia fans are sure to be frisky. After all, they’ve had all day to tailgate before an Eagles/Cowboys game scheduled for 8:30. Well played NFL, well played.

Dallas and Philly last met in the 2008 regular season finale, a 44-6 drubbing by Philly that propelled the Eagles into the playoffs and eventually to the NFC title game. Meanwhile, Dallas went into hibernation for the winter.

Fast forwarding to tonight’s festivities, the winner of this game will be in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. In the immortal words of Mills Lane…LET’S GET IT ON!!

8:30 – NBC’s Andrea Kremer informs us no Brian Westbrook tonight due to lingering concussion issues. Perhaps in the long run a wise move considering the upcoming Philly schedule which includes a trip to San Diego next week.

8:35 – First bad sign of the night for Dallas. The first offensive series features a Philly sack and Tony Romo running for his life. Prior to the game’s start in a pregame interview, Romo told NBC’s Bob Costas that he would not cut his hair until Dallas lost again. Tony, my father is a licensed barber. He can give you a trim in 20 minutes after the game. He is located in nearby South Jersey.

8:40 – When announcers keep talking about both quarterbacks going awhile without throwing an interception, you can count one of the two doing it. The broadcaster’s jinx finds Donovan McNabb and he is picked off by household name Gerald Sensabaugh.

8:47 – Dallas utilizes a big reception by Kevin Ogletree (I’ll explain who he is shortly) to setup Tashard Choice running it in out of the wildcat formation from two yards away. So far, Dallas’ three key contributors are Sensabaugh, Choice and Ogletree, three guys who you wouldn’t recognize if you walked by them in broad daylight.  DALLAS 7, PHILLY 0

8:51 – Just so we’re clear…a brief introduction to Kevin Ogletree.

8:53 – Uh oh. The Eagles, who are notoriously odd when it comes to 3rd and 1’s don’t convert on a dropped pass by tight end Alex Smith. McNabbulous is 0 of 4 thus far.

9:05 – Dallas’ Jay Ratliff sacks McNabb and injures left tackle Jason Peters all on the same play. Philly’s achilles’ heel on offense besides their irrational playcalling (see Raiders loss a couple of weeks back) is a concern over protecting McNabb. The line has been shuffled around throughout the preseason and into the regular season.

9:11 – Mc5 is throwing ground ball practice as the quarter ends. Not much to crow about from the Philly side. Their struggles aren’t the biggest surprise of the night. We’ve somehow gone 45 minutes into the game without NBC making a reference to next Sunday night’s affair.

They are back again.

9:20 – Jay Ratliff is trying to make the Pro Bowl tonight apparently. Another sack of McNabb thwarts a Philly drive. Cue up David Akers. DALLAS 7, PHILLY 3.

9:26 – First Brady/Manning promo.

9:30 – New offensive linemen on the field = sacks. Jason Babin introduces himself to the former beau of Jessica Simpson. Another Dallas drive is squashed as the low scoring tilt continues.

9:36 – Ladies and gentlemen, a MICHAEL VICK SIGHTING! Coming into tonight, Vick is the proud owner of 31 all-purpose yards through seven games. Why did we care about this again? The protesters have been all but silent and so has been Vick’s play on the field.

9:45 – Oh lord. Facing a 3rd and 4, the Eagles run out of the shotgun. Yep, that surely will mean another Akers field goal. DALLAS 7, PHILLY 6.

9:57 – Eagles dodge a bullet after giving up a 64 yard reception to Patrick Crayton. Nick Folk boots through a field goal to extend the Dallas lead. Asante Samuel is probably smiling on the Eagles’ sideline after he nearly dismembered Roy E. Williams in the endzone to make sure he did not catch a touchdown. Somehow, the officials missed such a happening.

HALFTIME: DALLAS 10, PHILLY 6

10:14 – Ellis Hobbs returns the opening kickoff for six to give the Eagles a lead. PHILLY 13, DALL…..about that. Holding on the Eagles negatives the touchdown. Neither team is wildly outplaying the other but it seems the Eagles are leaving some plays on the field and allowing Dallas to have some shred of success.

10:20 – So much for that penalty. The Eagles utilize a 45 yard catch off of a dump off pass to LeSean McCoy to set up a TD pass to Brent Celek. Uncle Wade challenges the call, claiming McNabb was over the line of scrimmage. As it turns out, McNabb’s whole body was across the line…except his foot. Hi-jinx ensues in the endzone resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Birds. PHILLY 13, DALLAS 10

10:28 – Paging Miles Austin…paging Miles Austin. Following a personal foul against Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown intercepts Romulus. Like any prize fighter, you keep hitting a quarterback enough, he’ll airmail one to you. It appears the Eagles are starting to heat up…By the way, a quick sidebar if I may. The next time Samuel trash talks any player in the NFL, they should remind young Asante of this play from Super Bowl XLII.

10:45 – A cat and mouse game ensues with the Eagles trying to draw Dallas offsides on a fourth and 1. It backfires as Jason Peters ever so slightly flinches, thus drawing a flag. It’s a drive killer that makes Wade Phillips jolly.

10:56 – Don’t have the actually number in front of me, but when Tony Romo gets sacked more than once typically we’re headed to a Dallas loss. Tonight, the Eagles have sacked him four times.

10:58 – Before we can begin to offer up a dirt nap to the Cowboys, McNabb goes deep, only to be picked off by Cowboys DB Mike Jenkins. The momentum swings again…

11:05 – Just when it appeared as if the Eagles might open this thing up, the Cowboys capitalize on the McNabb interception with a field goal to tie. It just seems we’re headed towards one of those finishes that will end terribly for one of these two quarterbacks. DALLAS 13, PHILLY 13

11:19 – The ghosts of short yardage failures past visits Philadelphia again. They fail to convert 3rd and 1 AND 4th and inches. On the replay, it seemed as if McNabb easily got the first down. Somehow controversy follows tonight’s referee Walt Coleman. Remember him Raider fans?

11:22 – Eagles lose a challenge on McNabb’s sneak. Dallas given up a layup here to take the lead by Andy Reid. Buckle up folks. The end should be absurd.

11:26 – It only took Dallas three quarters and change but they finally found Miles Austin to the tune of a 49 yard touchdown catch thanks to the dreaded double move against Philly’s Sheldon Brown. DALLAS 20, PHILLY 13

11:38 – Should the Eagles lose this game, Andy Reid is going to get savaged by the Philly media. McNabb was stopped short on a 3rd and 10 and elected to have Akers kick a 52 yard field goal with 4:27 left. Normally, that is an acceptable bit of strategy. However, when you’ve blown all three of your timeouts in the half, that’s a different story. DALLAS 20, PHILLY 16

11:44 – Jason Witten first down catch. Goodnight folks. No timeouts for Philly. Should have gone for it Big Red. Let the media beatdown begin.

1149 – Ball game folks. A bad loss for the Eagles who drop to 5-3 with a trip to San Diego next week. Meanwhile, the Cowboys own first place in the NFC East with a two game lead on the suddenly reeling Giants, who have dropped to third place. At 6-2, Dallas visits Green Bay next Sunday in Lambeau. Just pencil in the Cowboys for at least five sacks on Aaron Rodgers now and save yourself the trouble.

FINAL: DALLAS 20, PHILLY 16.

To the victor goes the spoils…

Decent Community is going back to the archives today to check out Championship Ranch — “a website dedicated to champions and glory.” A very fine premise indeed! And with a legendary slate of contributors that included big names like Muffler, Frank, Sportsman, JonerBoner, Milldog, and the estimable Misterbeef – this was a can’t lose website. Then came February 3, 2008 — Super Bowl XLII – and just like that, Championship Ranch basically vanished into thin air!

A quick visit to The Ranch and you’ll immediately sense the promise that once was. No question — The Community longs for the day when this New England pecka-head sanctuary is running again at full throttle. Until then, we can only reminisce about champions, glory, and the character-filled ranch where it all seemed to come together.

Now that my blog has apparently caught the attention of mainstream media outlets such as My9 news (that’s Channel 9 for all you non-New York area readers), I have an announcement to make.

Any Giants fans (or Jets fans I guess) who have attended games at Giants Stadium over the years, from the Joe Pisarcik Era all the way through Super Bowl XLII, and who want to be on TV on Friday, here’s your chance. The lovely Brenda Flanagan of my9 is doing a story on the history of Giants Stadium and is looking for people to interview to obtain a fan’s perspective for her story. The interviews will likely be done at around noon this Friday at Giants Stadium, and anyone who is interested should contact Brenda at brenda.flanagan@foxtv.com.

I’ll be there on Friday afternoon, and it should also give me a great opportunity to get a two-day head start on my tailgating for Sunday night’s game against the Cards.

Written by Geoff Crawley

I am already on record predicting the Eagles to win Super Bowl XLIV. Since that prediction, the Eagles have lost Jim Johnson, Stewart Bradley and Cornelius Ingram. They have added Michael Vick, and may be starting a rookie at free safety.

A rookie may be replacing Brian Dawkins.

So, naturally, I will not be cutting them an inch of slack. I will not be changing my prediction. Super Bowl or bust.

SI’s Don Banks disagrees. He thinks the Eagles will miss the playoffs. But he is a mook, who cares what he thinks?

I believe that the Eagles are a top five team. Here, in order, are the four teams I believe pose the greatest threat to the Eagles Super Bowl chances.

1. New York Giants

The Giants are not the best team in the NFL. But they may be the best team in the NFC, and they are in the same division as the Eagles, making them the biggest threat.

They have a great defense, a great running game and a Manning at quarterback. (Yeah, I know it’s the wrong Manning, so what?) They have championship experience and know how to win. They will not have the Plaxico Burress issue distracting them this season.

In fact, I think that it is highly likely that they will win the division with the Eagles getting in as a wild card.

But the Giants have not beaten the Eagles in the playoffs since Bill Clinton was in office. The Eagles are 2-0 versus the Giants in the playoffs, having beaten them at the Linc in 2006 and in the Meadowlands last year. Since 2001, including the playoffs, the Eagles are 12-6 versus the Giants.

They also lost their defensive coordinator. All Pro DE Osi Umenyiora recently walked out of camp for a day because he felt that new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan was disrespecting him. How long until Tom Coughlin goes off on somebody for showing up five minutes early for a meeting instead of ten minutes early?

The Giants are a great team. They may have a better regular season than the Eagles. But the Eagles will beat them in the playoffs. Again.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The defending champs are still the best team in football. They return intact, plus get Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall for the entire season. They should avoid the slow start they had last year. This is a ridiculously good football team.

They are well coached. They are battle tested, having won two of the last four Super Bowls. They have the most clutch quarterback in football not named Tom Brady, and an otherworldly great defense.

But…

For some reason, the Eagles own them. The Birds are 46-27-3 all time versus the Steelers. They even won the only postseason meeting between the two. (OK, it was in 1947. I’m just sayin’.) They are 2-1 versus the Steelers since 2000.

I’m not saying the Eagles are better. I’m saying the Eagles can beat them. If they meet in Super Bowl XLIV, they will.

3. New England Patriots

He’s baaaaaaack.

The most analyzed knee in the NFL is back to wreak havoc on the league. Tom Brady’s return makes the Patriots a Super Bowl threat.

They have the best coach in the NFL over the last decade in Bill Belichick. They have the best receiving corps in football outside of Arizona. And their defense is always tough.

Granted they have questions at running back, but they always have questions at running back. Laurence Maroney is listed as the starter, but BenJarvis Green-Ellis and Fred Taylor will see time there as well.

Brady’s knee was shredded less than 12 months ago, and as of now they have only undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer as a backup. They are rumored to be looking at AJ Feeley, but ESPN”S Adam Schefter reports that deal is unlikely to happen.

If Brady’s knee holds up, they will be dangerous. If not, they will be beatable. Either way, in the tougher AFC, they will be battered and bruised by the time they get to play the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

4. Baltimore Ravens

They have their usual ferocious defense, and Joe Flacco now has a year under his belt at QB. They are very well coached and well assembled by GM Ozzie Newsome. The offensive line may be one of the league’s best. Did I mention the defense? It’s pretty good.

But they have major questions at RB and WR. Derrick Mason changed his mind about retirement, but one has to wonder how enthusiastic he’ll be by, say, week eight. The defense is good enough to win a lot of games by itself, but can that propel them to the Super Bowl? They did it before in 2000, but this defense is not as good as that one, which was arguably the best ever.

This offense is better than that one also. Do they have enough to get by the Steelers and Patriots? Maybe. Do they have enough to win it all? I think not.

Honorable mentions

Green Bay and Minnesota are sexy picks this year. San Diego and Indianapolis are always in the mix, and should be this year as well. But all four are all in the next tier of teams behind the four mentioned above.

My official prediction? In a game for the ages, the Eagles beat the Steelers, 20-17 in Super Bowl XLIV.

Stone Cold Lead Pipe Lock(tm).

2008 Record: 12-5, 2008 TABRank: 5, Tentative 2009 NFC East Projection: 2nd
Despite losing Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to injury, the Giants began their Super Bowl defense with impressive success.  Led by an amazing offensive line, the run game dominated while the passing game moved along the field steady without many turnovers.  The Giants tied an NFL record for the fewest turnovers in a 16-game season (13).  However, New York lost just three of 18 fumbles, which was major sign of luck that cannot be replicated.  Three quarters through the season, the Giants were the best team and had an 11-1 record.  After that, though, momentum died and the team’s play got worse.  Without Plaxico Burress, the Giants struggled to go down field; it became a big problem in New York’s last five games.  The Giants just had a few possession receivers with little ability to break a play open.  Meanwhile, the offensive line didn’t continue its dominance.  The 2008 Giants team mirrored the 2007 Cowboys that fell to New York’s Super Bowl XLII run; they had no momentum heading into the playoffs and lost to an inferior divisional rival at home.  In some ways, this loss may be equally as sour as Dallas’ loss the year before.  Will the Giants suffer a similar fate to the 2008 Cowboys or will the line reemerge for another Super Bowl run?

The offensive line was the primary reason the team had its 11-1 start last season.  No player has elite talent, except for RG Chris Snee, but the unit was so good last year, it should have been considered the most valuable unit for the first three quarters of the season.  The starting lineup of David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Snee and Kareem McKenzie should be great again.  Depth is impressive in parts.  The line led the way for a potent rushing attack with some promising depth.  Though Derrick Ward left for Tampa Bay, bulldozer Brandon Jacobs should be able to handle starting duties once again.  With his size and speed, he’s an adventure to tackle.  Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware are a promising duo behind Jacobs.  Bradshaw proved he could get it done when getting extensive time late in 2007, when the Giants came into Super Bowl form.  Madison Hedgecock gets little fanfare as a fullback, but he’s among the best at his position.  After Eli Manning’s great run in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl victory, he almost played to an elite level in 2008.  If he can become more consistent, rather than a hot-and-cold quarterback, he’ll reach that elite status.  As the media has pointed out numerous times, the receiving corps is the major weakness on offense.  Without Burress or Amani Toomer, New York will need a new big-play threat and a new reliable veteran to emerge.  Steve Smith looks ready to replace Toomer’s spot on the roster, but both rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden need time to reach Burress’ level.  Domenik Hixon will probably get the other starting spot, but he’s not on an impact starter’s level.  Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss have the talent to become impact players.  If somebody steps up besides Smith, the receiving corps could be pretty good.

The front seven should be better on paper, but the defense could still take a step down since Steve Spagnuolo became the Rams’ head coach.  Bill Sheridan has experience on the Giants’ defensive staff, and he should run a similar defense, but it’s unknown if he’s on Spag’s level of coaching.  He already had a run in with Osi Umenyiora that caused Umenyiora to leave the practice facility.  Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Matthias Kiwanuka make a great defensive end trio, especially as pass rushers.  Extra strong DT Fred Robbins held the line together as the disruptive force inside.  The additions of defensive end/tackle Chris Canty and quick DT Rocky Bernard give the lines a nice boost.  This unit is extremely deep.  The linebacker corps got better with the signing of OLB Michael Boley, who was recently taken off of the Physically Unable to Perform list.  If Boley recovers quickly, the impact should be felt immediately.  MLB Antonio Pierce is one of the few elite centerpieces in the league.  Danny Clark is a solid player with limited ability.  Last year, the team experienced a tale of two corners.  Corey Webster had an elite season in 2008, proving to be one of the best in the league after his strong showing in the Giants’ run to Super Bowl XLII.  Meanwhile, Aaron Ross arguably had the worst season of any starting corner.  However, the former first-round pick has the talent to rebound to rookie form, where he played rather well.  FS Kenny Phillips will be hard pressed to replace the ascending James Butler.

Besides the horrible kick coverage, the Giants’ special teams did a fantastic job last season.  The kicking game and the return units were above average.  Meanwhile, the punt coverage was outstanding.  The kicking game should be reliable once again in 2009.

With an extremely strong front seven and a relatively nice balance and depth, the Giants should at least stay in playoff contention for most of the season.  Given their recent playoff experience, even with last year’s Divisional Round loss, they should be considered one of the favorites to make a deep playoff run. The consistency of the passing game, hurt a lot by the lacking receiving corps, could make a postseason trip short, though.

Burning Question: What can Giants fans hope for from this receiving corps, given the youth at the position?
Giants fans should hope for Steve Smith to have a seamless transition in replacing Amani Toomer as the primary possession receiver on the team.  Smith is extremely close, so such hopes aren’t farfetched.  Meanwhile, fans should hope that another young receiver emerges as a down-the-field threat.  Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden are rookies, so they shouldn’t be expected to be in the running.  Meanwhile, Sinorice Moss should be expected to be a deep threat in the slot; his time to emerge is now.  That leaves Mario Manningham as the man in the hot seat.  He needs to become a number one receiver this year, as Hixon is a fringe starter who shouldn’t be a long term solution for the G-Men.

Losing Burress
With the loss of Burress, the Giants lose a big-play threat.  However, it’s not like New York loses a consistently elite wide receiver.  Burress has always had poor catch rate, including an NFL-worst 35 percent during the Football Outsiders era (1994-2008).  This abysmal season came in Burress’ rookie year, in 2000.  Meanwhile, Burress’ best catch rate came in the season he saw the fewest passes in a season.  The loss may actually be a blessing, in that the Giants passing offense should definitely gain more consistency and effectiveness if somebody can step up into Burress’ role as a red-zone threat and big-play receiver.  Here’s a chart of Burress catch rate numbers since joining the league, as well as how many passes he’s seen his way in each season.  The wide receiver stats are provided by Football Outsiders.

2008 Record: 9-7, 2008 TABRank: 20, Tentative 2009 NFC East Projection: 4th
The Dallas Cowboys experienced unmatched heartbreak to end the 2007 season.  In perhaps the franchise’s worst playoff loss, the Cowboys lost at home in the playoffs against a divisional rival whom they swept in the regular season.  That heartbreak didn’t seem to have profound effects, thru three games at least.  Dallas looked like the best team in the NFC with a 3-0 start, but shortly after that, the injury bug that eluded Big D for years hit the ‘Boys hard.  Tony Romo’s broken pinky in an overtime loss in Arizona caused the team to take a huge step down, as Brad Johnson played poorly in his three starts.  When Romo came back, Dallas seemed to survive the Romo-less horrors, winning three games in a row to get to 8-4.  Unfortunately for Dallas, the Cowboys reverted to a 2006-like collapse, as one unit’s predictable play led to a 1-3 finish.  This time, the offense had a vanilla taste.  The collapse was capped by a major embarrassment in Philly, as Dallas suffered its worst loss to the Eagles in team history, 44-6.  Now there’s no more Terrell Owens.  Will his departure (and other roster changes for the Cowboys) allow Dallas to stabilize itself for a big run in 2009?

Romo has been a true gift for Dallas, as he’s the first quarterback to bring stability to the Cowboys since Troy Aikman’s retirement.  Romo shows amazing pocket elusiveness when under pressure, and he can swiftly move an offense when the pressure is off.  Still, he gets blamed Dallas’ late-season struggles, even if it’s unwarranted.  Otherwise, Romo is a great quarterback on most occasions, but he could cut down on the interceptions, as he had at least one interception in 10 different games.  Romo’s superstardom can be a distraction to his team at times.  Dallas has a very deep and dangerous backfield.  Marion Barber can cut past and run through defenders.  More importantly, he can take over the game, especially in the fourth quarter.  Felix Jones made several big plays before suffering a season-ending injury last October.  Hopefully offensive Jason Garrett can make expansive use of Jones’ abilities.  Tashard Choice is an impressive runner between the tackles, and he should factor into the Cowboys’ running game as well.  Tight end Jason Witten has been one of the most reliable receivers in the NFL in recent seasons, as he constantly finds way to get open and get extra yards after the catch.  WR Roy Williams needs to dedicate himself to running routes properly and catching the ball more consistently.  If so, he can become the #1 receiver Dallas needs after releasing Owens.  Miles Austin makes an intriguing starter opposite Williams.  Austin can make the big plays, but he’ll need to be reliable when the big plays don’t develop to be a true threat.  Patrick Crayton works best in the slot.  The offensive line lacks depth, which could cripple the offense if the starters fail to stay healthy.  LT Flozell Adams and RG Leonard Davis are both mammoth players who can struggle against quicker and more active defenses.  Center Andre Gurode still struggles to execute shotgun snaps, but he cut down on the errant snaps.  Overall, the line is too big (average 323 pounds per starter) and old (each starter with at least seven years experience) to remain completely healthy, so one of the young backups will need to step it up when the time calls.

DeMarcus Ware leads a defense that led the league in sacks last year.  Ware can do just about anything as a 3-4 OLB; he can blitz with the best of them and still make plays in run support and in pursuit of passes in the flat.  Ware is arguably the best linebacker in the game, and he makes life easier for the rest of the starting ‘backers (ILBs Bradie James and Keith Brooking and OLB Anthony Spencer).  Spencer needs to break out and prove he can be an effective edge rusher.  NT Jay Ratliff has great pass rushing skills.  He may be the best pass rusher of all the 3-4 NTs.   Marcus Spears and Igor Olshansky are solid players who have been very successful against the run.  The secondary has had its fair share of problems in recent seasons.  Terence Newman can be one of the best corners when he’s healthy, which hasn’t been the case for a while.  Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick are sophomore cornerbacks who have already shown flashes of greatness.  Free safety Ken Hamlin has been very good in Dallas, but the strong safety position, a problem spot for several years, still needs more production.

Nick Folk entered the league in 2007 and immediately became one of the best kickers.  Mat McBriar has been one of the best punters, but he will need to fully recover from a broken kicking foot.  Besides that, the special teams need a lot of improvement.  The coverage units have struggled, and the return game needs a bona fide threat.  Jones had a kick return for a touchdown in ‘08 before his season-ending injury.

Dallas simply had too much drama last year, and they had one of the most disappointing seasons in the process.  Sure, the drama was primarily created by the media rather than the players themselves, but that doesn’t absolve the ‘Boys from their failures.  Now with Owens and Pacman Jones (and the high expectations) gone, pressure from the media has been relieved.  Maybe now Dallas can focus on the run game more, which suits the mauling O-Line much better than an Owens-heavy offense.  Consistency and health are the keys for Dallas.  If the Cowboys remain relatively healthy and consistent, they’ll contend in a brutal NFC East.  However, the NFC East has the Super Bowl XLII Champions, a team which acquired the best defensive player over the past two seasons and a team that reached the NFC Championship Game five times in the last eight seasons.  Even if the Cowboys experience a calmer ride in 2009, they could finish last in the division.

Burning Question:  How can Jason Garrett maximize the talent in the Dallas backfield?
To put it simply, Garrett must keep all three of his running backs fresh and active.  Barber may be at his best in the fourth quarter, but he played much better in 2007 when he came off the bench for Julius Jones.  The way Barber bulldozes his way through defenders can leave him susceptible to nicks and nagging injuries.  Of course, Garrett must make sure to put the game in Barber’s hands when he’s running hot.  Barber dominates as well as any back in the game.  Felix Jones provides a nice contrast to the tough and physical Barber.  Jones has the blazing speed to kick a run outside and take it the distance.  Whenever Barber starts to slow down after pounding the rock, Jones can change the gears.  Barber and Jones also should get some looks in the passing game.  Jones would be the better man for screens, while Barber can still take dumpoffs in the two-minute offense.  Choice will be wild card of the bunch.  Choice isn’t quite as big as Barber, but he can still run hard and take it inside.  It would not be too crazy to have some two-back sets with Barber and Choice.  Choice should get spelled in for Barber when the offense is trying to take over the game and wear out the defense.

Bug Be Gone
After five seasons of great health for the Cowboys, the injury bug hit Dallas hard in 2008.  Will the injury bug stay in Dallas? Before we go over the injury issues in 2008, check out exactly how lucky the  ‘Boys have been with their health from 2003-07.  Note that this table, composed of the top six teams in “Adjusted Games Lost” over the five-year span, is NOT an original work and comes from Pro Football Prospectus 2008 (Schatz 71).  The table has the teams’ rankings in “Adjusted Games Lost.”

The Cowboys’ projected starters for 2008 missed a total of 43 starts. Still, 12 players started all 16 games, including four players on the offensive line.  All but Owens and Chris Canty return to the Cowboys for the ‘09 season.  Obviously, the law of averages suggest that the Cowboys will have injury problems again, but the great health of the Cowboys have to be attributed in large part to the training and medical staffs. Strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek quite simply is one of the best in the business.

Je le disais dans le précédent billet: Derek Hagan pourrait bien récupérer le poste de David Tyree comme membre de l’équipe spéciale.

Tyree peine à l’entraînement et ça le frustre. Il l’a montré aujourd’hui sur le terrain après avoir laisser tomber une balle pour la 5e fois en 2 jours. Le jour a jeté son casque au sol et a filé un coup de pied dedans.

Le héros du Super Bowl 42 a peu de chance de rester dans l’équipe. Après une année sans avoir joué à cause d’une blessure au genoux, David sait que son titre de héros ne le sauvera pas et pourtant si il n’avait pas été là au moment où Eli a lancé cette passe les Patriots auraient sans doute remporté le match.

Pourquoi a-t-il si peu de chance de rester dans l’équipe?

Tout d’abord le corps des receveurs est au complet et Tyree n’a jamais été reconnu pour son talent de receveur malgré “The Catch” et un 1 TD lors du Super Bowl (pour la petite anecdote, le play sur lequel Tyree fait une réception pour un TD lors du SB XLII avait été réalisé à l’entraînement la veille et Tyree était incapable d’attraper la balle, drôle d’histoire )

De plus, Derek Hagan a de sérieuses chances de faire partie de l’équipe spéciale vu sa performance actuelle qui plaît aux coachs. À côté de ça il est plus grand, plus jeune et peut être plus rapide que Tyree qui, rappelons-le, a été sélectionné une fois au Pro Bowl comme membre de l’équipe spéciale.

Alors la solution pourrait être de garder Tyree comme l’un des 8 membres du practice squad. Cela l’empêcherait de jouer lors des matchs mais il pourrait continuer à partager son expérience avec les autres joueurs pendant les entraînements et si jamais Hagan venait à se blesser il pourrait très bien repasser dans l’équipe titulaire.

Nous en sommes qu’à la première semaine du training camp et bien des choses peuvent changer d’ici là: Hagan peut se blesser, Tyree peut être reboosté par les matchs de présaison et faire mieux, etc… Mais si les Giants devaient faire un choix aujourd’hui je penses qu’ils prendraient Hagan et non Tyree.

Hemos hablado mas de una vez de neuromarketing en este blog. Lo hicimos en Serpentinas y confeti (Noviembre 27, 2008) en el que hablamos sucintamente del libro de Martin Lindstrom “Buyology: Truth and Lies About What We Buy” estructurado en un estudio de neuromarketing que tomó 3 años y costó 7 millones de dólares y fue llevado a cabo por un equipo de investigadores, utilizando la neurotecnología más avanzada: la digitalización por resonancia magnetica funcional  functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) y la electroencefalografía (EEG) en dos mil personas de cinco países, con el objetivo de evaluar la eficacia de las advertencias sanitarias, product placement y mensajes subliminales.

También analizamos otros documentos varias veces, cuando no existía este blog sino unos mails enviados a un grupo de “mercaderes”. He hecho un recuento porque sé que hay varios lectores interesados en el tema y algunos viejos amigos que quieren revisar el tema. Lo pongo al final de este post.

El doctor Tjaco Walvis(1) se hizo conocido por un trabajo sobre los focus groups que publicó en 2003 “Avoiding advertising research disaster: Advertising and the uncertainty principle”, del que se puede encontrar un abstract en la red, que advertía que la mayor parte de la investigación cualitativa se hace a través de focus groups y entrevistas en profundidad cara a cara. Y proponía algunas técnicas para asegurarse que la metodología es aplicada correctamente. Esto, para evitar, principalmente, desechar buena publicidad y validar mala publicidad(2).

El mismo autor ha publicado, a fines del año pasado, otro estudio llevado a cabo durante 18 meses a través del cual ha descubierto que el cerebro trabaja como Google: utiliza una serie de algoritmos, en un proceso inconsciente, para escoger la marca que mejor encaja con las necesidades emocionales y funcionales del individuo, en ese momento en particular. Dice el autor que ese proceso despertó su interés en la interacción entre el branding, la neurociencia y lo que llama la neuroeconomía.

También indica que las reglas de selección son consistentes y por lo tanto le permiten a los responsables de marketing establecer sus estrategias de marca de tal forma que los procesos inconscientes dentro del cerebro decidan lo que compramos de manera ayudada. Sin embargo, (supongo que porque el cerebro es muy perspicaz), eso mismo podría ayudar a los consumidores a entender como es que los responsables de la estrategia, están tratando de persuadirlos.

Lo más importante de todo lo que halló Walvis es que el algoritmo del cerebro, para escoger una marca, se basa en tres elementos:

(1)     el cerebro escoge la marca que ha aprendido que es la mas apta para satisfacer sus metas biológicas y culturales. Escogemos inconscientemente la marca que es excepcionalmente gratificante basándonos en sus asociaciones con nuestras metas y los centros de recompensa del cerebro (es decir el sistema de neurotransmisores de la dopamina)

(2)     el cerebro selecciona la marca que ha mostrado que es capaz de satisfacer esas metas, con mayor frecuencia, en el pasado. Las marcas con coherencia que repiten su promesa tienen, por lo tanto, mejores posibilidades de ser escogidas: Volvo, Coca Cola y Disney son ejemplos de marcas coherentes.

(3)     el cerebro escoge la marca con la que más intensamente ha interactuado en el pasado. Las sucesivas participaciones de la marca crea numerosas nuevas conexiones en nuestro cerebro, facilitando el proceso de recuperación de la misma. Nike Plus es un ejemplo de este concepto de sólida participación (los ejemplos los toma el autor del estudio)

Explica finalmente el Dr. Walvis que la metodología con la que ha llevado a cabo su estudio es distinta a la que se muestra en la mayor parte de los libros y estudios de neuromarketing y es, además, el primero en probar y aplicar sistemáticamente el nivel más fundamental de la neurociencia al branding. Examina los procesos a nivel de la célula en el cerebro del cliente cuando está decidiendo que marca prefiere. Ese camino científico es llamado “la ruta reduccionista” de la investigación en la neurociencia, lleva a insights completamente diferentes y demuestra lo que el estudio representa para la gente de marketing. Mientras que la otra metodología, llamada “la ruta holística”, utiliza técnicas de escaneo del cerebro como el fMRI —resonancia magnetica funcional  (del inglés functional magnetic resonance imaging)— para investigar los temas de marketing. Por ejemplo el libro de Martin Lindström (del que hablo en el primer párrafo de este post) es el mejor ejemplo de esto.

El estudio “Three laws of branding: Neuroscientific foundations of effective brand building” está disponible en la red: el abstract, el estudio completo y el estudio en PDF.

El libro “Branding with Brains: The Science of Getting Customers to Choose Your Company” que publicará Financial Times Prentice Hall el 29 de octubre, aún está en proceso de edición pero se puede solicitar una comunicación a Amazon.com en esta dirección para que avisen cuando esté disponible.

Para los que quieran recordar lo que discutimos por mail en meses y años anteriores, sigue el recuento de esos correo.

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Recuento

Hace casi dos años el 8/10/07 en un mail titulado “Nuevos métodos de investigación en proceso de desarrollo” dijimos: Formas novedosas de medir la reacción de los televidentes a los programas, a los comerciales. Métodos neurológicos y biométricos para detectar a través de sensores una respuesta galvánica de la piel, midiendo además respiración, ritmo cardiaco, actividad física y la dilatación de la pupila y a través de ropa especial y comentábamos un artículo de Multichannels News  Cablers Brainstorm Innovative Research Tactics de Julio 23 de ese año y otro de ese mismo día (8/10/07) This Is Your Brain on Advertising aparecido en Business Week.

Una persona sometida a un test conectado a una máquina de EEG ( Fuente Ad Age)

En “La electroencefalografía cada vez más cerca de medir comerciales en varios parámetros” del 11/02/08 hablamos de dos artículos: Nielsen, NeuroFocus Allign To Develop High Tech Ad Monitoring del 7 del mismo mes, sobre la inversión estratégica realizada por Nielsen en la empresa especializada en la aplicación de la investigación de las ondas cerebrales en la publicidad, la programación y la mensajería Neurofocus de Berkeley, California. Pero sobre todo de The Super Bowl Spots That Got Inside Consumers Heads de Ad Age con fotos interesantísimas de un sujeto siendo sometido a un test mientras está conectado a un aparato de electroencefalografía (ver foto más arriba). Sands Research, una empresa de investigación hizo la prueba durante el Super Bowl XLII ( 2008) con veinte individuos a los que se les colocó un casco con electrodos conectados de forma inalámbrica al electroencefalógrafo. La prueba no puede aún calibrar la intención de compra pero sí una medida del vínculo que se crea con algunos comerciales y la relaciona con un nivel de recordación.

Dos scans muestran distinta actividad (fuente Ad Age)

El scan superior muestra la actividad durante la proyección de un comercial de Bud Light del Super Bowl XLII (2008). La segunda con menos sinapsis (lugar de encuentro de dos neuronas) cuando el mismo sujeto fue sometido a un aviso de la Oficina Nacional de Control de Drogas de los EE UU. Apareció en el artículo The Super Bowl Spots That Got Inside Consumers Heads de Ad Age.

Y en Neurociencia, biométrica, sensores a una respuesta galvánica de la piel analizamos un artículo del NYT del 31 de marzo del 2008: Is the Ad a Success? The Brain Waves Tell All en el que hablábamos a los parámetros de medición del título agregábamos movimiento de ojos, pulsaciones y otros y nos sorprendíamos de que  Frank Stagliano, vicepresidente ejecutivo del Nielsen Entertainment Television Group en NuevaYork dijese “En muchas formas estamos testeando la publicidad de la manera en que lo hacíamos hace 22 años en Procter & Gamble”. Y hablamos sobre EmSense Corporation el principal competidor de Neurofocus mencionada en un interesante artículo del Wall Street Journal del 14 de diciembre del 2007  Reading the Mind Of the Body Politic, con un subtítulo sugerente “El subconsciente es la nueva frontera en la política. Pero ¿es buena para la democracia?” que seguía a uno de Los Angeles Times del 10 de Febrero 2008 sobre el mismo tema, la política, con otro título provocativo: “Peeking inside voters’ minds” también sobre el subconsciente del elector y la manera de medir lo que lo motiva, lo que toca su sensibilidad.

Neurociencia (y neuromarketing) en busca de la conciencia

Nuevo fascinante reportaje de la TV pública (o de la ciencia y el conocimiento) alemana sobre cómo neurocientíficos siguen la huella caliente de la conciencia humana e intentan leer los pensamientos.

Mas centrado en el neuromarketing no-político está: “Mind Over Matter – New tools put brands in touch with feelings” del 18 de febrero del año pasado en Newsweek,  revelando que las dos empresas antes mencionadas y otras dos OTX Research e Innerscope habían desarrollado instrumentos de medición portátiles, menos intrusivos y más baratos para verificar tanto las ondas cerebrales como lo información biológica.

Para terminar con el recuento histórico de lo tratado con este grupo están las conferencias del Dr. Kyle Murray, Director de la Facultad de Comercio de la Universidad de Alberta, en Caligary (Canadá) sobre el tema del neuromarketing To Buy Or Not To Buy y A Peek Inside Your Mind? y una serie de trabajos del mismo profesional cuya relación sería muy extensiva para ponerla en este recuento, pero que, desde luego, puedo enviar a solicitud.

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(1) es socio de They, que debe ser una consultora en gerencia de marca (pero no lo he podido saber porque su presentación en la web, además de bastante tenebrosa dice poco sobre las actividades) con base en Ámsterdam y trabajó anteriormente en BBDO. Es master en economía y filosofía y da asesoría en creatividad para las marcas y temas estratégicos de comunicación incluyendo posicionamiento de la marca, extensiones, gerencia de portafolio y branding territorial (por ejemplo para países). Entre sus clientes está el Aeropuerto Schiphol de Ámsterdam, DaimlerChrysler, Dorito’s, Mars, McKinsey & Company, Robeco, Sanoma Publishers, Getronics, NPO (Dutch Public Broadcasting), Aegon, Insinger de Beaufort, UPC y Bacardi entre otros.

(2)     El estudio: “Avoiding advertising research disaster: Advertising and the uncertainty principle”, publicado en el Journal of Brand Management, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 403-409, propone tres caminos para asegurar que lo básico se hace bien y da algunas pautas para que los que compran investigación cualitativa puedan determinar si los investigadores que contratan las marcas, las aplican o no. Partiendo de una afirmación de Werner Heismberg llamada “el principio de la incertidumbre” de la física cuántica “lo que observamos no es natural por sí mismo, sino lo natural expuesto según nuestro método de interrogar”, por lo que el diseño de un focus group (la selección de los participantes, las preguntas formuladas, la forma como han sido construidas, el escenario, la persona que hace las preguntas o lleva la orientación, etc.) afecta las respuestas obtenidas de los encuestados. Por otro lado los investigadores no son observadores aislados sino participantes, siempre.

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2008 Record: 2-14, 2008 TABRank: 31, Tentative 2009 NFC West Projection: 4th
Besides the winless Detroit Lions, the Rams were the worst NFL team in 2008.  The Rams have been 5-27 in the past two seasons, which is actually the worst record in that span.  Steve Spagnuolo was signed as the head coach in the offseason in hopes to build a defense like the one that helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII.  The defense struggled immensely early last season, as the Rams allowed at least 31 points in each of its first four games (for a total of 147 points in that span).  The defense improved somewhat as the season progressed, but still allowed at least 31 points five more times.  Offensive problems were just as prevalent.  The Rams scored 20 points or more just thrice and allowed 45 sacks during the season.  Spagnuolo will need to improve the offense just as much as the defense; can he and the Rams organization build the right pieces on offense?  Meanwhile, will Spagnuolo build the defense and make the Rams relevant once again?

Quarterback Marc Bulger was once on the verge of being an elite quarterback, but offensive line problems the past two seasons has led to Bulger’s demise.  Injuries, sacks and overall poor play have made Bulger a liability.  Maybe if the offensive line can play well again, Bulger can make a nice comeback.  That line should be much improved, as the Rams signed left guard Jacob Bell and center Jason Brown during free agency and drafted left tackle Jason Smith second overall.  Penalty plagued Alex Barron moves to a better-suited position at right tackle.  The entire left side is new, but the Rams can hope for the drastic improvement Cleveland experienced two years ago when the Browns drafted an offensive left tackle very early in the draft and signed a premier left guard through free agency.  The line improvements should help Steven Jackson a lot as well, as long as he can stay healthy.  Nagging injuries has hampered Jackson the past two years after 346 carries and 90 catches in 2006.  Getting Mike Karney as the lead blocker will certainly help as well, but a nice complimentary back will help much more.  Saint Louis needs to keep Jackson fresh, and they haven’t had that luxury for a while.  The passing game has more than some fresh legs, with second-year players Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton and Derek Stanley leading the way in the receiving core.  Ronald Curry is the lone veteran with major experience.

On defense, the line will play a major role in the transition towards the attacking style Spagnuolo will employ.  Chris Long is still learning while Leonard Little (age 34) is starting to hit the end of his career.  James Hall has never been a major blitzing threat.  Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan are promising players who will need to play up to the potential for the Saint Louis “D” to thrive.  If the defensive line plays well, it’ll free up the back seven for unique and hidden blitzes that Spagnuolo constructs so well.  Outside linebackers Chris Draft and Will Witherspoon aren’t noted blitzers, but Witherspoon did manage to register seven sacks in 2007.  Still, the sacks and pressure will come more from scheme than talent.  The secondary has two studs in cornerback Ron Bartell and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, a wonderful overachiever in safety James Butler and a former first-rounder in cornerback Tye Hill.  If Hill can play consistent ball fit for a cornerback, this unit can be among the best in the league.

The kicking team already has reached such a level.  In recent years, Josh Brown has rivaled Adam Vinatieri for the status of the league’s most clutch place kicker, and Donnie Jones became only the second player to average over 50 yards per punt in a season.  Long snapper Chris Massey doesn’t make mistakes.

Few have the Rams pegged to make a shocking turnaround.  With a defensive roster ill-suited to make Spagnuolo’s system truly thrive, it’s understandable why Saint Louis isn’t a trendy pick.  Still, the Rams are better suited for a quick turnaround than most would think.  If Spagnuolo’s blitzes can muddy things up enough for the secondary to make plays, and the offensive line quickly gels for Jackson and Bulger, Saint Louis could contend in a rather weak NFC West.  Don’t chalk the 2009 season as a rebuilding one for Saint Louis just yet.

Burning Question: How long will it take for Spag’s blitzing scheme to make the Saint Louis “D” relevant?
This answer will primarily depend on the front seven’s ability to adjust to Spagnuolo’s blitzing nature.  While the roster isn’t ideal for Spag’s system, the unit does have the element of surprise to take advantage of.  Sure, opponents can look at film of the Giants’ “D” under Spagnuolo, but the adjustments Spags will make in the front seven could lead to some new unique plays.  Little may be 34, but he has always been an accomplished blitzer, and he may benefit greatly from the new regime.  He and the son of a Hall of Famer, Chris Long, should be Spag’s primary focus.  Once they command extra blockers, he can throw in the hidden blitzes with success.  Such blitzing schemes thrive either on pure surprise or sheer numbers.  For 2009, the element of surprise will have to work.  There will be major challenges for Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole, so it’s probably safer to say that the blitzing scheme will take about two or three years to truly blossom.  Remember, even with the spoils at defensive end in New York, the Giants struggled terribly on defense for the first two and a half games under Spagnuolo.  That defense did eventually win the Super Bowl, but the assent to an elite level wasn’t exactly immediate.

Deficiency’s (NOT) the Key
The Rams struggled badly on both sides of the ball, and it was proven by the Rams finishing near the bottom in per-play efficiency on both offense and defense (30th and 31st, respectively).   In total, Saint Louis had the second-worst efficiency differential (yards per play v. yards allowed per play).  Here’s a list of the bottom eight teams in efficiency differential, unsurprisingly a list with the teams who originally had the first eight picks in the 2009 NFL Draft:

*-On a side note, the Rams had by far the worst net red zone TD percentage with -29.7 (34.5% offense and 64.2% defense).

Eight months ago, NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress suffered an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to his right thigh in the New York City nightclub LQ. His glock pistol was tucked away in his sweatpants, and after it began to slide down his leg, Burress reached for the gun and accidentally depressed the trigger. It was not a life threatening injury, and Burress was released from a hospital the next afternoon.

About a week later, Burress turned himself into the NYPD to face charges of criminal possession of a handgun. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will try to prosecute Burress to the full extent, claiming any punishment short of the minimum 3.5 years for unlawcul carrying of a handgun would be “a mockery of the law.” Burress also had an expired concealed carry license and no New York license.

On December 2nd, 2008, Burress posted bail of $100,000 and was scheduled to return to court March 31st, 2009, to enter his plea of not guilty.

On December 23, 2008, a search of Burress’ New Jersey home by police and investigators from the  Manhattan District Attorney turned up a 9 mm handgun, a rifle, ammunition and the clothing believed to be worn by Burress on the night of his accidental shooting. If Burress cannot present permits for the weapons, additional charges will likely be filed against him.

On April 3rd, 2009, the New York Giants released Burress, thus making him a free agent.

On July 29, 2009, Burress testified before the grand jury in New York, claming to be “truly remorseful.”

Personally, the Manhattan DA’s, and the supreme court need to throw the book at Burress here. Although a couple of days ago I defended Michael Vick, this is a lot different. What would have happened if that gun went off on an innocent victim? Why would he even need to be bringing a gun to a nightclub anyway? This was a stupid, stupid move by Burress, similar to the mistake Vick made, but the difference is, Vick paid for it. Burress needs to spend atleast 2 of the minimum 3.5 years behind bars, he should be made an example out of. One day I’m sure Burress will get re-instated to the NFL, and is a talented wide receiver, but until then, should be behind bars.

Biography

Plaxico Burress was born August 12 ,1977, in Norfolk, Virginia.  He played college football at Michigan State before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2000 NFL Draft. After spending five years with the Steelers, Burress left via free agency and signed on with the New York Giants. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Burress played four seasons with the Giants before getting his aforementioned release back into free agency.

David Tyree hasn’t stepped on a football field since making that famous Super Bowl catch. Now, he faces the challenge of competing with a stacked roster of receivers. Full story …

En lisant cet article sur le top 10 prospect des Giants (traduction chez Gmen pour ceux qui ne maîtrisent pas l’anglais) j’ai remarqué beaucoup de joueurs draftés par les Giants en 2007 et qui entameront la 3e de leur carrière professionnel.

Autre point intéressant: tous les joueurs de la classe rookie 2007 ont fait une forte impression lors du Super Bowl XLII contre les Patriots, à l’exception d’Aaron Ross (CB) qui n’a fait qu’un seul placage. Malgré cela le 1st pick des Giants en 2007 sera titulaire aux côtés de Corey Webster et a le potentiel d’être un solide corner back.

Kevin Boss (TE) qui remplaçait le titulaire blessé Jeremy Shockey, a receptionné la plus longue passe du match – 45 yards. Il sera le TE titulaire pour la 2e année consécutive et déjà l’année dernière il a montré qu’il avait de bonnes mains et qu’il se débrouillé dans la progression après réception (33 réceptions, 384 yards, 6 TDs). Cette je penses qu’il peut faire entre 500 et 600 yards avec 6 à 8 TDs.

Steve “12″ Smith (WR) était lors du Super Bowl la 2e cible de Manning après Amani Toomer. Il a cumulé 5 réceptions pour 50 yards et s’est montré très utile dans les 3rd downs. C’est un rôle qu’il a d’ailleurs conservé durant sa 2e année puisqu’il a enregistré 53 réceptions pour 574 yads dont 1 TD et 35 first downs. Le numéro 12 sera la starter cette année et même si il n’est pas très rapide il a des mains sûres et sait se démarquer. Mon pronostic: 800-900 yards et 6 TDs

Ahmad Bradshaw (RB) était le meilleur coureur du match avec 45 yards (9 tentatives soit 5 yards par tentative) ce qui est relativement peu mais ça se comprend étant donné qu’il s’agissait plus d’un match défensif qu’offensif. Durant la saison 2008 Bradshaw a passé plus de temps sur le banc à regarder le tandem Jacobs-Ward courir pour 1000 yards chacun: sur 15 matchs joués il a couru 67 pour 355 yards et a marqué un TD. Maintenant que Ward est parti, Bradshaw devrait avoir le poste RB#2 et partager les portées avec Brandon Jacobs à moins que Danny Ware ou le rookie Andre Brown ne lui piquent sa place. Dans le cas où il aurait son poste de premier remplaçant: 700-800 yards, 5-7 TDs.

Lately, two of the biggest stories involving NFL wide receivers during off-season are the statuses of Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall and free agent Plaxico Burress.

Let’s recap shall we?

Marshall didn’t come into the league with as much fanfare as Burress. Marshall’s ability on the football field is also not as well-known to the casual fan as Burress’ is (fantasy football players aren’t casual fans); but, he has had an outstanding start to his career.

Drafted out of Central Florida in 2006 by the Denver Broncos, Marshall has quickly become one of the league’s best wide receivers. He has 226 catches for 2,899 yards in three years, including 206 catches for 2,580 the past two seasons. He’s been on my fantasy football team the past two years, and, obviously, he has been a big part of it.

That is all one the field. Very impressive! But off the field, he has some baggage, to say the least.

He was indirectly involved in the fatal shooting of Darrent Williams in 2007. He has been arrested numerous times for various alcohol related incidents and also domestic disturbances. He has also recently requested a trade.

Plaxico Burress came into the league with a lot more fanfare after an outstanding career at Michigan State. After being a solid player for five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Burress went on to greener pastures with the New York Giants. His time in New York has been highlighted by a game-winning touchdown reception in Super Bowl XLII.

He, too, has some baggage. He held out from training camp due to being unhappy with his contract situation before the 2008 season. This ruffled some feathers with his former organization, the New York Giants. He was suspended for one game for violating team rules in 2008. This was the second time in his career he had been suspending for breaking team rules. He has been fined numerous times. And then, of course, there is the accidental shooting incident at a New York nightclub. This incident caused him to be suspended from the team for conduct detrimental to the team. He has since been released from the Giants and is trying to catch on with another team.

The question posed is which one of these talented players I would take. The answer is NEITHER.

Neither player is worth the major headaches that would be caused. As a loyal fan of my teams, I truly care about winning. But, I want chemistry in my clubhouse, and chemistry is not what you would have if either of these players is on a team. There are just too many distractions. The questions from the media would all be about Burress or Marshall… and that’s not what a TEAM needs.

Are they super talented? Absolutely! No one is questioning that. But I strongly believe Brandon Marshall and Plaxico Burress would bring more harm to my team than good!

Thanks but no thanks! But, feel free to give Al Davis a call!

Currently, there are two rather controversial, but highly productive, wide receivers who are actively seeking an new opportunity in the National Football League – free agent Plaxico Burress and the Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall.

Are either of these receivers worth bringing into an organization, or are teams better left looking elsewhere for their talent?

To help answer that question, I (Bleacher Fan) will be arguing that Plaxico Burress is a talent worth signing.

Sports Geek will argue that Brandon Marshall, who publicly asked for a trade from Denver last week, is worth the pursuit and sacrifice necessary to bring him into an organization.

Loyal Homer will argue that neither are worth signing, and teams should avoid these two at all costs.

Make sure to check back throughout the day to read each perspective, then vote for person you feel made the strongest case for their side.

This should be a no-brainer. In fact, as GM for an NFL organization, signing Plaxico Burress ranks on the common sense scale just above ‘never carry a loaded gun in your sweatpants when visiting a New York City nightclub’! FOLLOW COMMON SENSE!!!

The guy did something stupid… okay, REALLY stupid.

Be honest, though… we have ALL done something stupid at least once. I know I have. I can remember playing around with a new set of kitchen knives I got when I dropped one of them, taking a 2-inch gash out of my leg! Or consider my Dad (Happy Father’s Day, Pop!), who has a scar on his chin that he ‘earned’ as a little boy. He and his brother got a bullet from a friends’ house and had the brilliant idea to wedge said bullet into a sidewalk crack and take turns hitting it with a hammer (it’s a wonder I even made it into this world)! Not surprisingly, the bullet exploded and a piece of it hit my dad in the chin, with the other piece hitting my uncle in the chest (don’t worry, both survived the incident). People do STUPID things all the time!

And it’s not like Burress got away with his stupidity… he was shot in the leg, suspended from his team, forced to pay hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in fines, and lost millions from his contract. I HOPE he learned his lesson!

He’s also been involved in contract disputes, though he’s not the first or the last to do that. Unfortunately, that is the nature of today’s professional athlete, and not a character flaw held solely by Plaxico Burress.

So the reasons not to sign Burress are because he did something stupid, and he’s trying to squeeze every last penny he can out of the NFL – but none of those reasons take away the fact that he is an AMAZING wide receiver!

Since being drafted eighth overall in the 2000 NFL draft, Burress has amassed 7,845 receiving yards on 505 receptions, averaging 15.5 yards per catch. He has also caught 55 touchdowns, fumbled only nine times, and has broken the 1,000-yard receiving mark four times. Compare that to Brandon Marshall, who averages only 12.8 yards per catch, and has already fumbled 7 times in 3 short years!

In 2007, Plaxico’s last complete season, he caught 70 passes for 1,025 yards (14.6 yards per catch), and 12 touchdowns. Marshall, in that same season, caught 102 catches for 1,325 yards (only 13.0 per catch), and only seven touchdowns. In this case, quantity does not outweigh quality.

Plaxico Burress makes his team a winner. The New York Giants WITH Plaxico were the best team in the NFL, hands down. In 2007 they won the Super Bowl, and in 2008 they began the season 10-1. Following his suspension, the Giants finished the season with a dismal 2-3 record, capping off their season with an 11-23 playoff loss to division rival Philadelphia.

He’s able to catch virtually anything. At 6-feet 5-inches he can reach places defenders cannot. The Giants knew this. That’s why, when trailing by four points with only 0:39 left on the clock in Super Bowl XLII, they executed a fade pass to Burress in the corner of the end zone. The play worked then as it had all year. He caught the ball, and the Giants won the championship.

The amazing thing about that play, though, was that EVERYONE knew the play was coming, including the New England Patriots. The Patriots, powerless to stop it, watched helplessly as Burress ended their perfect season.

That is what makes Plaxico Burress a dominant Wide Receiver, and that is why he should be signed immediately!

I love being a sports fan.  I love the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Pistons, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Red Wings, Michigan Wolverines football team, and UNC basketball team (reigning champs!!!).  Any sports fan who has been lucky enough to have one of their teams win a title, as I have, knows the feeling when said team wins that title.  It’s one of the most primal feelings, pure joy.  However, most of the time is absolute frustration.  For every time that the Vikings make me happy, there are 50-60 times that they make me want to throw a brick through my TV.  The thing is, when they do something good, it makes it all worth it.

Sometimes, though, you don’t have a true vested interest in a game or series.  Sometimes you just look at two teams and say, “I really hate this team, so I’ll root for the other.”  This is the case whenever the Packers, Cavaliers, Yankees, Buckeyes, or Duke Blue Devils play.  Sometimes, such as in Super Bowl XLII, I am rooting for one team for historical purposes.  The Patriots were 18-0 going into that game.  I had been lucky enough to attend the 16-0 win at Giants Stadium.  I am a Tom Brady fan and I am still a Moss fan from his days in Minnesota.  I wanted the Pats to win so bad that when they lost, I literally felt sick to my stomach.  I wanted to see history.  I wanted to see Moss, who had been my favorite player, win a ring.  I wanted Mercury Morris to shut the hell up.  That game is one of the greatest games ever played.  It was amazing.  However, during the game, I couldn’t recognize that because I was so caught up being a fan.  Over a year removed from it, I can look back and appreciate it but there’s nothing like appreciating it in the moment.  I appreciated the Red Sox comeback in 2004 while it was happening and I can remember the sustained amazement.  Whenever I think about that Super Bowl, I remember how sick I felt that history slipped through their fingers.  It’s hard for a fan to look at things from outside of their own hopes.  Sometimes, being a fan might not be the best thing.

Sorry Pats fans. Time to relive Plaxico Burress’ greatest moment as a New York Giant on his final day with the team.

One huge question comes to mind when your favorite team is located hundreds of miles away, especially during the current times of economic struggle.  Should I try to make a trip to my team’s home stadium to watch them play or I just watch every game at home?  Different factors should be considered before making a decision.

Stadium Appearance
Sometimes seeing a state-of-the-art stadium itself is worth the trip.  In the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks have a stadium worth the trip in Qwest Field, as seen in the picture below from the NW Sports Scene website.

The Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium, which will open this fall, should surpass all other stadiums.  I’ve already been to Texas Stadium, which you will see pictures of in the future, so I will definitely make the trip to the new stadium.

The MLB is better known for their stadium, and that’s because most stadiums have a unique playing field (like the cetnerfield bump at Minute Maid Park).  Other stadiums have great histories, like Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park or Wrigley Field.  Of course, the league is committing some sacrilege by allowing the destruction of Yankee Stadium.  I only live about 90 minutes away from the stadium, but I’d travel across the country for the chance to catch another game there.  The picture below is from the All Posters website.

Arenas for the NBA and NHL don’t have the state-of-the-art touch or special aura necessary to take the trip.  The other criteria will need to pass for the game to be worth the trip.

Importance of Game
If you get tickets for a playoff game, and that’s the only game on TV, you should make the trip.  No matter what the sport, going to see a playoff game live should be exhilarating.  Also, if you get to see a superstar (like Michael Jordan in the 90s) or have the chance to see a player pass a milestone, make the trip.  I know this trip was short, but I went to see the Redskins-Giants live this past season, simply because it was the first NFL game of the season and the Giants celebrated the Super Bowl 42 victory (much to my chagrin).

Live Action
Note which sports you love to watch live or which sports you hate to see on the television.  Personally, I can’t stand watching baseball on TV.  I think the pace is too slow and the commentary is overall sub-par.  I’d much rather watch the game live in the middle of spring or watch a night game during the summer.  I can be outdoors (in most cases) and savor the surroundings while the pitcher prepares for his next pitch.  According to most accounts, college football is considered to be much better in live action.  You can tailgate and cheer along with the rabid, youthful fans.  The potentially cold weather creates one drawback for most fans, but it’s that much more exciting for the fans who love love to handle the chill.

The Surrounding Area
If your team lives in a nice city, then take the trip.  You can always hang out in the area for a weekend, get some sight-seeing done and then watch your favorite team live.  I enjoyed the Dallas-Ft. Worth area very much when I went to see the Cowboys.

With all that said, if you decide to go, make the most of your trip and root your team on!

And now, back to the NFC East…

The New York Giants made headlines earlier today by signing DE Chris Canty away from the Cowboys.  Canty was the Cowboys’ best end, but I’m wondering how Canty will do in a 4-3 defense.  The Giants may try him at multiple spots along the line (Matt Mosley’s saying the Giants want him at defensive tackle), and I think they get him some good opportunities, especially since Osi Umenyiora returns from an injury and quick defensive tackle Rocky Bernard was signed away from Seattle.  The defensive line looks pretty scary right now, and they could be very close to the 2007 unit that helped to upset the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.  Meanwhile, the linebacking core was bolstered with the signing of former Falcon Michael Boley.  Boley will play at the weakside, and now there is a formidable trio of Boley, Antonio Pierce and Matthias Kiwanuka.  The front seven should be elite.

In other news, some people are crying foul about the Cassel-Vrabel trade to Kansas City.  Jay Cutler was one of them.  This is a potentially murky situation, but Cutler has to learn not to be so sensitive.  As for the Broncos’ front office, I’m not sure exactly what they’re doing.  Denver has already added nine players to the roster in the first weekend of free agency.  The most notable pickup was Brian Dawkins, but he’s on the decline.  He has some years left in him, but he won’t be the elite player he was in Philadelphia.  I liked the Andra Davis and Darrell Reid pickups.  Davis has been a solid player, and he should be the best linebacker on the team not named D.J. Williams.  Reid is an excellent special teams player.  However, none of these pickups make the Broncos a serious playoff contender.  Most of these pickups are either slight upgrades to the starting lineups or backups who will provide decent depth.  Personally, I thought the Chiefs have been a darkhorse playoff candidate since the offseason, so right now I have the Broncos third in the AFC West.

I’m in the mood for love simply because you’re near me Honey but when you’re near me I’m in the mood for love

Artist: Brenda Lee

Song: I’m in the Mood for Love

Album: In the Mood for Love

Commercial Video: In the Mood for Love

Music Video:

Buy it!: iTunes: Amazon: Rhapsody

Lyrics:
I’m in the mood for love simply because you’re near me
Honey but when you’re near me I’m in the mood for love
Heaven is in your eyes bright as the stars way under
Oh is there any wonder I’m in the mood for love
Why stop to think of weather this little dream might fade
We put our hearts together
and now we are warm I’m not afraid
If there’s a cloud above if it should rain we’ll let it But but
tonight forget it I’m in the mood for love [sax
]
We put our hearts together…

Los spots televisivos presentados durante el Super Bowl siempre están llenos de creatividad, ingenio y derroche de dinero en producción. Son anuncios especialmente elaborados para este día donde las diferentes agencias de publicidad  se esmeran en presentar un gran anuncio, y cómo no hacerlo, si las diversas empresas que las contratan otorgan los mejores presupuestos para este evento, pues es cuando se logra el mayor número de audiencia dentro de la televisión norteamericana. Recordemos anécdotas tales cuando Macintosh con la exposición de un sólo spot dentro del Superbowl en 1984 aseguró sus ventas por todo el año siguiente.

Presentamos la lista de los spots televisivos que salieron en el recién Super Bowl XLIII. ¿Cuál te gusta más? A continuación  el favorito de quien escribe esto

El Rehilete